2007 to be "European Year of Equal
Opportunities for All"

The European Commission has designated 2007 as 'European Year of Equal
Opportunities for All' as part of a concerted effort to promote equality and
non-discrimination in the EU. The European Year is the centrepiece of a
framework strategy designed to ensure that discrimination is effectively
tackled, diversity is celebrated and equal opportunities for all are promoted.
The strategy is set out in a Communication adopted by the European Commission
today.

European Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities Commissioner,
Vladimír Špidla, said: "Europe must work towards real equality in
practice. The European Year of Equal Opportunities for All and the framework
strategy will provide a new drive towards ensuring the full application of EU
anti-discrimination legislation, which has encountered too many obstacles and
delays. Fundamental rights, non-discrimination and equal opportunities will
remain key priorities for the European Commission."

The four core themes of the European Year proposed by the Commission are:

- Rights – raising awareness of the right to equality and
non-discrimination

- Representation – stimulating a debate on ways to increase the
participation of under-represented groups in society

- Recognition – celebrating and accommodating diversity

- Respect and tolerance – promoting a more cohesive society

The Year's proposed budget of €13.6 million will cover preparatory
actions in 2006 as well as the various activities taking place during the
European Year itself in 2007.

The framework strategy on non-discrimination and equal opportunities for all,
which accompanies the draft Decision to set up the European Year, aims to
ensure that EC anti-discrimination
legislation[1] is fully
implemented and enforced. The European Court of Justice has already condemned
four Member States (Austria, Finland, Germany and Luxembourg) for not adequately
transposing EU anti-discrimination legislation. The strategy also looks at what
more the EU can do to tackle discrimination and promote equality, beyond legal
protection of people's rights to equal treatment.

In addition to the European Year, new initiatives announced by the
Communication include:

A feasibility study to look at possible new measures to complement existing
EC anti-discrimination legislation

The creation of a high-level advisory group to look at the social and labour
market integration of minorities, including the Roma

Gender issues
will be taken on board in the context of the European Year and the
non-discrimination strategy. This will complement the EU's specific efforts on
gender equality and sex discrimination, including the proposed Gender Institute
and the Communication on gender equality planned for 2006.

The framework strategy and the European Year follow on from a wide public
consultation conducted in 2004 on the basis of the Commission's Green Paper
Equality and non-discrimination for all in an enlarged EU.

[1] Directive 2000/43/EC of
29 June 2000 (OJ L 180 of 19.7.2000, p 22) implementing the principle of equal
treatment between persons irrespective of racial or ethnic origin and Directive
2000/78/EC of 27 November 2000 (OJ L 303 of 2.12.2000) p 16) establishing a
general framework for equal treatment in employment and occupation